Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels,

U.S. Average, April 20111

Age-gender groups

Weekly cost2 Monthly cost2

Thrifty

plan

Low-cost

plan

Moderate-

cost plan

Liberal

plan

Thrifty

plan

Low-cost

plan

Moderate-

cost plan

Liberal

plan

Individuals3

Child:

1 year 21.00 28.10 32.10 38.60 90.80 121.80 139.30 167.20

2-3 years 22.50 28.60 34.50 42.00 97.50 123.80 149.40 182.00

4-5 years 23.50 29.70 36.90 44.40 101.80 128.70 159.90 192.30

6-8 years 29.90 40.80 49.90 58.40 129.70 176.80 216.40 253.20

9-11 years 34.50 44.50 58.20 67.90 149.60 192.90 252.00 294.30

Male:

12-13 years 36.50 51.30 63.90 75.30 157.90 222.50 276.90 326.50

14-18 years 37.70 52.70 65.80 76.20 163.30 228.20 285.30 330.40

19-50 years 40.40 52.20 65.00 79.80 175.20 226.10 281.80 345.60

51-70 years 37.00 49.40 60.70 73.70 160.30 214.20 263.10 319.50

71+ years 37.00 48.80 60.90 74.50 160.40 211.60 263.80 322.70

Female:

12-13 years 36.40 44.40 54.00 65.10 157.60 192.60 233.80 282.20

14-18 years 36.10 44.70 53.60 66.00 156.40 193.70 232.40 286.20

19-50 years 36.00 45.30 55.80 71.50 155.90 196.40 241.90 309.90

51-70 years 35.70 44.20 54.80 65.70 154.50 191.50 237.40 284.60

71+ years 35.40 43.90 54.80 66.00 153.20 190.00 237.40 285.80

Families

Family of 2:4

19-50 years 84.00 107.30 132.90 166.40 364.20 464.80 576.10 721.10

51-70 years 79.90 103.00 127.10 153.40 346.30 446.30 550.60 664.50

Family of 4:

Couple, 19-50 years

and children

2-3 and 4-5 years 122.40 155.80 192.30 237.70 530.30 675.00 833.00 1029.90

6-8 and 9-11 years 140.90 182.80 229.00 277.60 610.30 792.20 992.10 1203.00

1The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary

Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost,

differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods. Another basis of the Food Plans is that all meals and snacks are

prepared at home. For specific foods and quantities of foods in the Food Plans, see Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 (2007) and The Low-Cost,

Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007 (2007). All four Food Plans are based on 2001-02 data and updated to current dollars by

using the Consumer Price Index for specific food items. 2All costs are rounded to nearest 10 cents.

3The costs given are for individuals in 4-person families. For individuals in other size families, the following adjustments are suggested:

1-person—add 20 percent; 2-person—add 10 percent; 3-person—add 5 percent; 4-person—no adjustment; 5- or 6-person—subtract

5 percent; 7- (or more) person—subtract 10 percent. To calculate overall household food costs, (1) adjust food costs for each person in

household and then (2) sum these adjusted food costs. 4Ten percent added for family size adjustment.

This file may be accessed on CNPP’s home page at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov. Issued May 2011

United States Center for Nutrition 3101 Park Center Drive Department of Policy and Promotion Alexandria, VA 22302

Agriculture